Portland observer., April 21, 2021, Careers Special Edition, Page 13, Image 13

C AREERS Special
Edition
April 21, 2021
Page 13
S PORTS
‘Heart Scare’ Ends NBA Career
Former Blazer
LaMarcus
Aldridge retires
after diagnosis
Former Portland Trail Blazer La-
Marcus Aldridge retired from the
NBA last week after saying he expe-
rienced an irregular heartbeat during
his final game with the Brooklyn Nets.
Aldridge, 35, posted a statement
on social media saying the heart con-
cerns he had during and after Brook-
lyn’s loss to the Los Angeles Lakers
on April 11 was one of the “scariest
things” he’s experienced.
Aldridge, who was diagnosed with
Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome —
an abnormality that can cause a rap-
id heartbeat — as a rookie in 2007,
said he feels better now after getting
it checked out but decided to end his
15-year career.
“For 15 years I’ve put basketball
first, and now, it is time to put my
health and my family first,” Aldridge
wrote.
Former Trail Blazer LaMarcus Aldridge, as a member of the
The seven-time All-Star signed Brooklyn Nets, shoots over Los Angeles Lakers center Andre
with the Nets on March 28 and he Drummond during a game on April 11 in New York. (AP photo)
had become their starting center. He
missed the last two games with what
the team had called a non-COVID-19
illness.
The No. 2 pick in the 2006 draft was
long one of the best at his position, av-
eraging 19.4 points in a career that be-
gan with nine seasons in Portland.
He went on to play 5 1/2 with the
San Antonio Spurs and was a five-
time All-NBA selection.
Aldridge thanked all three orga-
nizations in his post, saying Portland
gave him some “unforgettable years”
after drafting a “skinny, Texas kid.”
He praised the Nets for allowing
him to play his type of game, when so
many NBA teams are looking more to
the perimeter instead of the post now.
Trail Blazer executive Neil Olshey
called Aldridge one of the best players
in the history of the franchise.
“LaMarcus had a storied NBA
career and his time as a Trail Blazer
will always be remembered fondly.
Any success we experienced during
his tenure in Portland would not have
been possible without his work ethic,
dedication and talent, Olshey said.
“He will always be a member of the
Trail Blazer family and we wish him
the best in all future endeavors.”
Passion for Wine a Second Career
Carmelo
Anthony featured
in magazine
Shaler Halimon
Original
Blazer
Dies at 76
Shaler Halimon, an original
member of the Portland Trail
Blazers, who went on to call Ore-
gon his home, has died at the age
of 76.
The Trail Blazers organization
announced Monday that it was
mourning Holimon, an original
member of Portland’s inaugural
1970-71 team.
While his time playing for the
C onTinued on P age 14
Did you know Portland Trail
Blazer and 10-time NBA All-
Star Carmelo Anthony has be-
come the unofficial wine am-
bassador to the NBA.
Anthony is featured on the
May cover of Wine Spectator
Magazine were he gives a com-
mentary on NBA COVID-19
protocols and provides details
on his background as a wine
affectionado, including the or-
igins of his wine-themed You-
Tube Series, What’s In Your
Glass? and how he brings his
own wine on NBA road trips
and more.
Fellow ‘Wine Players of the
NBA’, T.J. McConnell, CJ Mc-
Collum and Doug McDermott
are also featured.
In the article, Anthony talks
candidly about his interests,
championing diversity across
industries:
The series “was supposed to
be just about wine,” he said,
“but so many other things were
happening in our communi-
ty and society and that led to,
‘OK, we’re talking about wine
but we’re also going to ad-
Portland Trail Blazer and 10-time NBA All-Star Carmelo Anthony,
the unofficial wine ambassador to the NBA, is featured on the
cover of Wine Spectator Magazine.
dress the issues happening in our
As an outspoken activist
community and our country... against racial injustice and so-
And what better way to discuss cial inequality, he founded the
what’s happening in our world
C onTinued on P age 14
than over a glass of wine?”